Folding convertible top with integral boot

ABSTRACT

A pair of side linkages for raising a convertible top ( 10 ) between a raised position, covering the vehicle body passenger compartment, through a body opening, and a lowered position folded into a storage compartment within the vehicle body, said top including a header ( 12 ) for engaging the vehicle windshield in the top raised position and at least one crossbow ( 14 ) extending between the side linkages, each linkage comprising side rails ( 18, 22 ) pivoted to and extending rearwardly from the header, and a plurality of links ( 34, 50, 56, 62 ) forming 4-bar linkages connecting the header ( 12 ), side rails ( 18, 22 ) and vehicle body for folding the top ( 10 ) in a Z-shaped folding action to a compact shape in the storage compartment such that the header ( 12 ) is not inverted and covers the folded top ( 10 ) and closes the body opening.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to vehicle convertible tops and, moreparticularly, to a top having a linkage which folds a top so that theheader serves as a boot to cover the top when stored.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many different types of folding convertible soft and hard tops have beendeveloped to enhance motoring pleasure by enabling a driver toselectively open and close the passenger compartment. These tops utilizea variety of different folding linkages, each of which are designed toaccommodate the particular mechanical constraints of a specific vehicleapplication. It is desirable to utilize a top folding linkage that issimple, compact and stores the top in as little space as possible.

When these tops are lowered into a storage compartment, the header isnormally inverted. This requires that the top or a portion of the top tobe covered by a soft or hard boot to prevent accumulation of dust orother contaminants that would be dumped into the passenger compartmentwhen the header rotates as the top is raised. The boot may be manuallyinstalled, or, is automatically manipulated by power operators, usuallyhydraulic cylinders. Installation of these boots requires time and/oreffort to install. In the case of the soft boot, it requires separatestorage when removed to enable the top to be raised.

It would be desirable to provide a convertible top that does not requirea separate boot to close the top storage compartment, and incorporates alinkage, which stores the top in a compact configuration, with the outersurface of the header covering the remainder of the stored and foldedtop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a convertible topthat does not require a separate boot to close the top storagecompartment, and incorporates a linkage, which stores the top in acompact configuration, with the exterior of the header covering theremainder of the stored and folded top.

Accordingly, this invention features a convertible top and a pair ofside linkages for raising the top between a raised position, coveringthe vehicle body passenger compartment, through a body opening, and alowered position folded into a storage compartment within the vehiclebody. The top includes a cover, a header for engaging the vehiclewindshield in top raised position, and at least one crossbow extendingbetween the side linkages to support the cover in top raised position.Each side linkage includes a side rail pivoted to and extendingrearwardly from the header and other links for folding the top in aZ-shaped folding action to a compact shape in the storage compartmentsuch that the header is not inverted and covers the folded top andcloses the body opening.

This invention also features 4-bar side linkages that enable the top tofold in the Z-shape.

Another feature of this invention is the use of a lost-motion connectionbetween the header and a side rail to enable relative lateral movementduring raising and lowering of the top.

These and other objects and features of this invention will become morereadily apparent upon reference to the following detailed description ofa preferred embodiment, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are side views of a convertible top of thisinvention, sequentially shown in fully raised, ¾ raised, half raised,and fully lowered and stored position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the top in its FIG. 3 position;

FIG. 6 an enlarged bottom detail view of the juncture of the header andthe front side rail; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged bottom view of a portion of FIG. 6, illustratingthe flexible connection between the front side rail and the header.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, a convertible top 10 has a conventionalflexible fabric, or other similar material, cover (not illustrated) thatis supported at its front by a plate-like extended header, or 1-bow, 12,and an intermediate bow 14. The cover for top 10 is conventionallyattached to the vehicle body (not illustrated). Header 12 extendssufficiently rearward so as to incorporate what would normally be anintermediate 2-bow.

These supporting bows are pivotally connected at each side by anarticulated linkage, which is conventionally operable by hydrauliccylinders, or other means (not shown) to raise and lower the top betweenan extended raised position covering the vehicle passenger compartment(not illustrated), as shown in FIG. 1, through the intermediatepositions shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, and a lowered and folded position,as shown in FIG. 4, within a storage compartment in a vehicle body (notillustrated).

Only one articulated side linkage is illustrated, since both areidentical/symmetrical. The linkages comprise a front rail 16 that issecured to, and moves with header 12. A middle rail 18 has a forwardextension 20 that is connected to front rail 16, as will be laterdescribed. A rear rail 22 is pivoted adjacent its lower end at 24 to therod 26 of a hydraulic cylinder 28, which is pivoted at 30 to abody-mounted mounting bracket 32.

A lower control arm 34 is pivoted to bracket 32 at 36 and has an arm 38that pivotally mounts one end 40 of a lower connecting link 42 that ispivoted at its other end 44 to the lower end 46 of rear rail 22. Theupper end of lower control arm 34 is pivoted at 48 intermediate the endsof a middle connecting link 50 that has one end pivoted at 52 to middlerail 18 and its other end pivoted at 54 to an intermediate portion ofrear rail 22.

The upper end of an upper connecting link 56 is pivoted at 58 to anintermediate portion of middle side rail 18, while its other end ispivoted to the upper end of rear rail 22 at 60. An upper control arm 62is pivoted at 64 to a header-mounted bracket 66, and to an intermediateportion of upper connecting link 56 at 68.

The linkage just described, of course, is duplicated on the other sideof the vehicle. It comprises three four-bar linkages that allow the top10 to fold into a very compact, layered arrangement. As can be seen fromviewing the folding sequence illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, top 10folds into the form of a collapsed “Z”. This is enabled by employing thefour-bar linkages. The first linkage is formed by header 12, front rail20, upper control arm 62 and the upper portion of upper connecting link56, as defined by pivots 64, 68, 58 and the connection 70 betweenextension 20 of middle rail 18 and front rail 16.

The second four-bar linkage comprises upper connecting link 56, thelower portion of middle rail 18, middle connecting link 50 and the upperportion of rear rail 22, as defined by pivots 58, 52, 54 and 60. Thethird four-bar linkage is formed by the lower portion of middleconnecting link 50, lower control arm 34, lower connecting link 42 andthe lower portion of rear rail 22, as defined by pivots 48, 40, 44 and54.

Thus, the entire top 10 moves about body linkage pivot 36 and cylinderpivot 30, as controlled by cylinder 28 and the three four-bar linkagesdescribed above. This Z-fold provides a more compact arrangementrequiring less space within the vehicle body than prior arrangements,while also enabling the extended header to cover the folded top andeliminate the necessity of using a separate boot cover.

To enable this linear Z-type folding movement of top 10, accommodationmust be made for lateral movement of the side linkage relative to theheader. The mechanism 70 for enabling this lateral flexibility is shownin FIGS. 6 and 7. Middle rail extension 20 is pivoted at 72 to oneflange 74 of bracket 66. The other bracket flange contains an elongatedslot 76, which receives a stud 78 mounted on a pad 80 on header 12. Thelost motion connection 70 causes the middle rail 18 and the remainder ofthe side linkages to move both pivotally and laterally with respect tothe header 12. This movement enables the top 10 to fold in theabove-described manner.

While only a preferred embodiment has been described and shown, obviousmodifications are contemplated within the scope of this invention, asdefined by the following claims.

1. A convertible top for a vehicle, the vehicle having a storagecompartment, the top comprising: a header; a pair of side linkagesconnected with the header; at least one crossbow extending between andconnected with the side linkages; wherein the side linkages comprise: afront rail; a middle rail; a rear rail; a lost motion connection betweenthe side linkages and the header to enable relative lateral movement ofthe side linkages during folding and unfolding of the top; and whereinthe top is foldable into a Z-shape into the storage compartment suchthat the header is not inverted, the header substantially covers thetop, and the header substantially closes the storage compartment andwherein the middle and rear rails are inverted during folding of thetop.
 2. The convertible top of claim 1, wherein the side linkagesinclude a 4-bar linkage to enable the Z-shaped fold.
 3. The convertibletop of claim 2, wherein the side linkages include a first side railmounted on the header, a second side rail pivoted to the header, a thirdside rail pivotally connected to the vehicle and spaced upper and middleconnecting links interconnecting the second and third side rails to formthe 4-bar linkage.
 4. The convertible top of claim 3, further includinga lost motion connection between the second side rail and the header toenable lateral movement during folding and unfolding of the top.
 5. Theconvertible top of claim 3, wherein the side linkages include an uppercontrol arm interconnecting the upper connecting link and the header toform a second 4-bar linkage.
 6. The convertible top of claim 5, whereinthe side linkages include a lower control arm connecting the middleconnecting link and the vehicle and a lower connecting link connectingthe third side rail and the lower control arm to form a third 4-barlinkage.
 7. The convertible top of claim 1, wherein the side linkagesinclude two 4-bar linkages to enable the Z-folding action.
 8. Theconvertible top of claim 7, wherein the side linkages include three4-bar linkages.
 9. The convertible top of claim 1 further comprising aplurality of links connecting the header, the front rail, the middlerail, the rear rail, and the crossbows.
 10. A convertible top for avehicle, the vehicle having a storage compartment, the top comprising: aheader; a pair of side linkages connected with the header, the sidelinkages comprising a plurality of side rails; at least one crossbowextending between and connected with the side linkages; a lost motionconnection between one of the side rails and the header so as to enablelateral movement of the side linkages during folding and unfolding ofthe top; and wherein the top is foldable into a Z-shape into the storagecompartment such that the header is not inverted, the headersubstantially covers the top, and the header substantially closes thestorage compartment.
 11. The convertible top of claim 10, wherein theside linkages include a 4-bar linkage to enable the Z-shaped fold. 12.The convertible top of claim 11, wherein the side linkages include two4-bar linkages to enable the Z-folding action.
 13. The convertible topof claim 12, wherein the side linkages include three 4-bar linkages. 14.The convertible top of claim 10, wherein the side linkages include afirst side rail mounted on the header, a second side rail pivoted to theheader, a third side rail pivotally connected to the vehicle and spacedupper and middle connecting links interconnecting the second and thirdside rails to form the 4-bar linkage.
 15. The convertible top of claim14, wherein the side linkages include an upper control arminterconnecting the upper connecting link and the header to form asecond 4-bar linkage.
 16. The convertible top of claim 15, wherein theside linkages include a lower control arm connecting the middleconnecting link and the vehicle body and a lower connecting linkconnecting the third side rail and the lower control arm to form a third4-bar linkage.
 17. The convertible top of claim 10, wherein the sidelinkages comprise a front rail, a middle rail, and a rear rail.
 18. Theconvertible top of claim 17, wherein the middle and rear rails areinverted during folding of the top.
 19. A convertible top for a vehicle,the vehicle having a storage compartment, the top comprising: a header;a pair of side linkages connected with the header; at least one crossbowextending between and connected with the side linkages; a lost motionconnection between one of the side rails and the header so as to enablelateral movement of the side linkages during folding and unfolding ofthe top; and wherein the top is foldable into a Z-shape into the storagecompartment such that the header is not inverted, the headersubstantially covers the top, and the header substantially closes thestorage compartment.